Old City in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Samuel Nicholas Memorial

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 19, 2022

1. Samuel Nicholas Memorial Marker

Inscription. Samuel Nicholas (1744-1790) was expelled from this Quaker worship community for founding the Continental Marines, the precursor to the U.S. Marine Corps, during the American Revolutionary War. After the Revolutionary War, Nicholas became a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, an exclusive, patriotic organization that that continues to promote public and scholarly work on the American Revolution. In 1790, Nicholas died of yellow fever and was buried at Arch Street, though the exact location is unknown. The Marine Corps considers Nicholas their first Commandant. In 2011, they laid this commemorative grave marker for him on the property.

Erected by Arch Street Meeting House.

Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Quakerism series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1790.

Location. 39° 57.122′ N, 75° 8.743′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Old City. It can be reached from Arch Street

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west of North 3rd Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 304 Arch St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and memorial is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Revolutionary Religion / Betsy Ross / Arch Street Meeting House (here, next to this marker); Friends Meeting (within shouting distance of this marker); Arch Street Friends (within shouting distance of this marker); Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); What is Quakerism? (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also

Samuel Nicholas Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 19, 2022

2. Samuel Nicholas Memorial

named Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 658 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 20, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A closeup of the commemorative stone (may possibly qualify for its own profile) • Can you help?